Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-12-01
Warrington Letter.
from Our Regular Correspondent
MEANINGLESS Nor. % lSs1

FROM Our Regular correspondent
WAsHxGToS, Nov. 90, 1857.
Compulsory examinations for promotion in
the executive departments were inaugurated
last summer in the War Department. Now
that the qualifications of all the clerks in the
different bureaus of that department have
been tested, and the results known in indi-
vidual cases, it is interesting to inquire what
effect the examinations have on the service
and if the new rules attain the object for
which they were designed. Recent investi
cations By your correspondent in this direc-
ton, among both the officials of the War De-
partment and the Civil Service Commission
ers, disclose diversity OF opinion. Some of
the former think that the examinations do not
show anything not already known about the
merits of clerks. and have no other effect
than to worry and demoraiize the clerical
force. There was not single official who
was not in favor of civil service examine
ton for admission into the service. 1t keeps
out dead wood and admits only those of
certain degree of intelligence. but above all
it relieves the departments of the former dis
tracing pressure of influence 10 secure Off
ces. Politicians have learned that they can
do nothing by interceding with the depart
ment heads for appointment through favor
itism, and when vacancy occurs now it is a
routine piece of business to secure the certi-
fication of four successful candidates of in
telligence, and 10 select from among them a
man without regard TO politics and friends.
While acknowledging the debt due TO the
civil service requirements in. this direction
many officials hold that the preliminary ex-
animation does not definitely settle the ques-
ton Of qualification. The probationary term
of six months service is, after ALL they say,
the real test of a clerks efficiency, and that
this is as it should be No more, they think
can mans fitness for promotion or retention
be ascertained by putting him through an
examination. The true test is his record at
his desk from in the morning until in the
afternoon. Arguing from this standpoint it
is not thought that the promotion rules really
attain the end for which they were designed
Naval officers are much amused over the
result of a recent attempt of the line officers
of the Navy To come 10 an agreement upon a
bill which it was proposed to have introduced
III Congress, providing for the readjustment
of their pay. The matter was conducted
with good deal Of secrecy, and notices were
sent out privately to officers interested to
meet at hotel in this city few days ago.
One of the main propositions to be acted upon
was Il plan 10 increase the pay of ensigns by
500 for every years service, and on this
point there seems To have been much diff
ference of opinion among the line officers.
| The meeting took place last week. 1t APP
pears that the representatives of the Naval
Academy were fully prepared TO maintain
certain of their rights which they believed to
be in jeopardy, and came to the meeting
armed with proxies in such numbers that the
resident line officers who had called the
meeting found themselves outnumbered and
after a stormy session were compelled in
self-defence to secure an indefinite adjourn
ment. 1t is expected that the fight will be
renewed at future meeting.
1t is said, apparently on good authority
that the Presidents message will make no
recommendation about postal telegraphy
The reasons hich prevail against such ad-
vice are said to be mainly belief that the
firm establishment of cvil-servce reform
would be imperilled by the sudden doubling
or trebing of the employees of the Post Office
Department, and the doubt whether private
competition is not sufficient to keep the tele
graph service of the country where it ought to
be. There are now about 900 900 en-
ployes in all grades of the postal service. 10
extend postal telegraphy to all parts of the
United States and make it coincide with the
present postal service would require as many
more employees, if not an even greater ad-
dition to the Department. The strain of
such duplication of the service is something
to make even the most sanguine believer in
postal telegraphy pause.
do not remember time when the open
ing of a new Congress has been attended
with so little excitement as is apparent in
Washington at the present time. The hO-
tel' are almostas quiet as al midsummer. OF
course this will all be changed during the com
ing week. But as tits quite certain that Speak
er Carlisle will be reelected, and as there is
really no reason to suppose that Mr. Randall
will be displaced from the craftsmanship of
the Committee on Appropriations, there is
only the contest over the minor House offices
to engage much attention. The fun will be-
gin later in NE season, when the committees
get TO work and the struggle over tariff re-
form begins. LENox.